Remember when…#tbt

By: Jenn

Picture this…it’s a Saturday in the late spring of 1997, me and my two girlfriends decided to skip out of our Cosmo (cosmetology) class and go to Boston Market. One of the girls drove a super-sweet, white 1996 Chevy Camaro SS with black leather interior and T-Tops (her birthday present from her dad). The sun was shining, the T-Tops were off, I was riding shotgun and Around The World by Daft Punk was playing on a loop from the CD player.

This was one of the few moments in my life I truly felt bad-ass. Turning the heads of strangers as we cruised around town. Premium sound kicking out the coolest (in my opinion) electronic dance music. I think that this was the first time I had heard EDM and I’ve had an affinity for it ever since.

Flash forward 18 years… I am almost 36 years old, married mom of 2, driving my sweet, sweet Honda CR-V and Around The World is streaming via Bluetooth audio as I drive to my daughters’ Wednesday dance class. I am instantly transported back to that sunny Saturday where I was just one of the cute chicks in that white Camaro, jamming to Daft Punk.

Viva Las Vegas (adjacent)

I am attending my East Coast Implementation Conference in Henderson, NV this week – it is officially the furthest west I’ve been, to date.

I can tell you that the glitz and sparkle of the strip does not extend to where we are staying. This is, like, the dregs of society. Locals who sit at the penny slots all day and all night, smoking cigarettes indoors while their oxygen tank sits next to them in their Rascal.

There is a steady stream of adult contemporary music piped in, but it’s hard to hear over the constant ringing and jingling of all the slot machines and video poker. Tomorrow night, we are going to be released to “The Strip” for some bona fide Las Vegas shenanigans and I am already looking into tattoo parlors and listening to Tom Jones non-stop.

Shen and I hope to record a Live From Las Vegas (adjacent)! episode of the We Can Podcast That cast on Thursday!

This blog post has been brought to you from Fabulous Henderson, NV courtesy of my company’s dime!

-Jenn

Way Back Wednesday – Occidental Brothers Dance Band International

By: Jenn

Many moons ago, (January of 2007, to be exact) on the NPR show “Eight Forty Eight” they had 3 bands cover New Order’s 80’s classic “Bizarre Love Triangle” and what the Occidental Brothers Dance Band International did with it was AMAZING.

I have no recollection of the other 2 bands’ versions because this one has always stuck with me.

They put a whole new spin on this with the West African dance beat and sassy sax (yep. Sassy.)

Circle, Circle, Circle is another great tune

And that satisfies your culture requirement for today, please feel free to go on about your business.

-Jenn

Kat Dahlia, Who Are You?

By: Jenn

Hi.

Remember me? I used to be super excited about posting blogs and then I disappeared for 3 months? It’s OK. I’m not dead or in prison.

I am back. I’ve clawed my way out of my work hole and look! I brought a you present:

This song isn’t new, but it keeps popping up on my Spotify rando list and it’s my new ear worm.

Very catchy, but I find Kat Dahlia to be unsettling. Like an enigma, wrapped in a mystery and covered in a Cuban pork sandwich. She reminds me of a cross between a young Demi Moore and this chick named Jamie that I went to high school with who used to beat the shit out of people who looked at her wrong. She had some anger issues, to say the least.

Well. There you have it. My “not-so-triumphant” return.

I’ll be back soon, I promise.

Not Just For The Kids

I watch A LOT of kids shows & movies.

One thing I have noticed lately is the quality of the soundtracks. Generally, recording artists are contracted to write/perform a specific song for the movie and that is it. However, a new trend I am seeing is the adaptation of an artist’s existing catalog into an animated feature.

The first time I noticed this was at the end of Disney’s “The Pirate Fairy” (from their Disney Fairies franchise). I am rarely a fan of “Direct To DVD” releases, but I have to admit I am smitten with these fairy movies.

The song at the end of the movie is called “Weightless” by Natasha Bedingfield and after pulling it up in Spotify, it was immediately evident that this song was not written expressly for “The Pirate Fairy” once I heard these lyrics:

“They told me ‘Girl to get your way, you’ve got to be a bitch’
They say a guy won’t get the girl if he’s not filthy rich.”

Only 1 verse and the chorus are used in the movie (for obvious reasons).

I think the song is great, and it seems that people are finally starting to realize that you don’t have to go all cutesy and saccharin with kids music. I find that most kid music is catchy, yet insufferable and it’s a nice change to hear something that isn’t just syrupy sweet, rainbows & unicorn farts.

Regardless of whether or not the songs are created just for the movie, I hold a special place in my heart for kid movie songs because I am basically a 12 year old at heart.

Jenn’s Top 10 Kid Movie Songs

10. Down In New Orleans – Dr. John (The Princess and the Frog)

9. Just A Cloud Away – Pharrell Williams (Despicable Me 2)

8. The Great Divide – McClain Sisters (Disney Fairies “Secret of the Wings”)

7. Let It Go – Idina Menzel (Frozen)

6. Le Festin – Camille (Ratatouille)

5. La Da Dee – Cody Simpson (Cloudy With A Chance Of Meatballs 2)

4. When Can I See You Again – Owl City (Wreck-It Ralph)

3. When She Loved Me – Sarah McLachlan (Toy Story 2)

2. Hawaiian Roller Coaster Ride – Mark Keali’l Ho’omalu & Kamehameha Schools Children’s Chorus (Lilo & Stitch)

1. Weightless (Less is More version) – Natasha Bedingfield (The Pirate Fairy)

No Words.

By: Jenn

I’ve had this song stuck in my head for about a month. From the first time I heard it, I was captivated.

I listen to it several times a day because there is something in the music and lyrics that just wraps me up.

After hearing it a few times, I made the assumption that the song was a knock to organized religion.

You know what I didn’t think it was about? Human atrocities.

As I was doing my virtual leg work for this blog post tonight, I pulled up the video on YouTube and sat in stunned silence for 3:58 as I watched the lyrics tell a story that was much different than the one I had developed in my mind.

I sit here sobbing because what I had interpreted as a relatively simple song was so much more. This music video unfolded a reality to me that I knew, but didn’t KNOW.

I don’t know why I am so overwhelmed with emotions about this. Is it guilt? Maybe I didn’t know what I thought I did and that makes me feel ignorant?

I have no experience with what it’s like to be an LGBT person, let alone an LGBT youth in a country that condemns you and condones hate crimes against you.

I am not stupid. I know that horrible things happen every day to millions of people all over the world and that’s an extremely sad reality.

I don’t judge the lives of others and my belief is that everyone is entitled to love without persecution. However, I will often discount my feelings and opinions on things because they “don’t relate to me”.

What I am forgetting is that it does relate to me. It relates to all of us. It’s humanity.

I’m not telling you to forego your belief system, just remember that we are all human. Made of flesh and blood and millions of electrical impulses.

Our differences are skin deep, but our sames go down to the bone.

Bombs Away!

By: Jenn

Happy Halloween!

I don’t have anything spooky to write about today.

I just wanted to toss out this song that’s been at the top of my playlist lately (It’s not Sam Smith

Geronimo by Sheppard.

I loved this song from the moment I heard it, and today I watched the music video for it on Youtube and now I love it even more.

Teal hair and a cardboard monster? Count me in!

Enjoy?

Imitation is the highest form of flattery.

By: Jenn

I love covers.

While listening to the Dinosaur Jr episode of The Static Podcast, I learned that they did a cover of The Cure’s “Just Like Heaven” and instantly went to Spotify to find all the covers done for that song.

I was already familiar with the original version, and had it on good authority that Dinosaur Jr was not the first band to cover it. This song is perhaps one of my favorites, and I set out to listen to every cover I could find.

Goldfinger

Katie Melua

Ken Middleton (amateur on ukelele!)

Eclectica (En Espanol!)

Charlotte Martin with a lovely piano accompaniment.

Another well covered song that is close to my heart is The Smiths “Please Please Please Let Me Get What I Want”. It is for certain a staple of 80’s movie soundtracks and an instrumental version done by Dream Academy can be heard in the 1986 John Hughes classic ‘Ferris Bueller’s Day Off’.

Clayhill

Dream Academy (Instrumental) – this one is definitely my favorite cover

Deftones

She & Him

Fun fact: I was not familiar with “Please Please Please Let Me Get What I Want” until I heard the She & Him version on the (500) Days of Summer soundtrack and thought “This sounds familiar. This reminds me A LOT of the scene at the Art Institute in Ferris Bueller’s Day Off.” Sure enough, The Internet advised me that yes, the songs are one in the same. Thank you, The Google!

While the songs are the same at their core, each interpretation puts a spin on these familiar tunes that I find endearing.

Happy Monday, Folks!

French for Friday!

By: Jenn

One of my very good friends is an international flight attendant (To Paris!) with a penchant for all things French – wine, music & culture.

Over the years we’ve shared an appreciation of French music and although we disagree on Edith Piaf (he doesn’t care for her, I love her.) he has yet to lead me astray when suggesting songs I may enjoy.

For you today, dear readers – I present you with my French for Friday submission:

Edith Piaf – Non, Je Ne Regrette Rien

Joe Dassin – Champs Elysées

Carla Bruni – Quelqu’un M’a Dit

Charles Trenet – Boum!

My knowledge of the French language is not conversational, so my appreciation for these songs is based purely on the music & tone of the artists.

2 Years Ago Today…

…I became a mom.

(By: Jenn)

Since having become a mom, I have been desperately trying to nurture my kids’ musically.  I have a pretty random and oft-rotating music taste, so it’s not uncommon to take a peek into my Spotify starred list and find Louis Prima, Flight of The Conchords, & Gordon Lightfoot all hanging out there.

During mealtimes at our house, we listen to music. My husband likes to play the kid-friendly stuff (Disney movie soundtracks, etc) at lunch time, but at dinner time – I get to be the DJ.

I find that the girls don’t really care what the song is, so long as they can shake & jump around to it. I try to sing along and dance to the songs because I want this to be a “thing we do”. They can tell their friends who are coming over to eat “Oh! During dinner – we have a dance party sometimes.”

It doesn’t have to be “JUST EAT!” – we can have fun, too.

It’s a nice break from the commotion that marks impending bed time. Shake those crazies out and clap!

As of late, the dinner time chart toppers have been:

Smile – Sheppard

Happy – Pharrell

That Old Black Magic – Keely Smith & Louis Prima

Boum – Charles Trenet

Ugly Heart – G.R.L.

All About That Bass – Meghan Trainor.